JNX and concert goers take a group photo at the end of the festival.
The first JNX FEST, a free, all ages music festival held at the Mariposa County Art Park earlier this year, brought a variety of young up and coming bands from all over California and out of state and a big supportive crowd to the Mariposa Art Park.
“JNX FEST was a huge success. All the performers and bands did amazing and it was good positive vibes throughout the whole day,” said Jonah Dacanay, founder and producer of JNX Fest and frontman of the band JNX.
“That was the most amount of people I’ve ever seen at the Art Park. We are very happy how this event turned out and hope it becomes an annual event.”
Emceed by co-festival producer Spirit Dewitt, JNX FEST started with an open mic with acoustic performances from mainly locals and anyone who wanted to perform.
Dacanay kicked off the open mic with a cover of Incubus’ “Drive” and sang JNX’s original ballad “Shooting Stars.”
Highlights included local singer Cheyenne Hernandez who sang “Make it With You” with her son Dewitt on back up vocals and on guitar. Mariposa County Hight School students as well as teens from the Bay Area band Peaboo and the Catz joined the open mic.
Band members from JNX, Kutie, Second House, Zonora, The Remedies, Tinklbob posed for this photo in between sets.
The bands that performed at the festival included local bands Tinklbob and The Remedies. Tinklbob, a jazz, bossa nova band fronted by Clementine DiMorente performed some classic jazz tunes including Ella Fitzgerald’s “At Last.”
The Remedies, fronted by Mariposa’s Logan Baker, performed grunge covers and originals. Second House, from Madera, brought emo and alternative rock tunes. The crowd danced and sang to Second House’s cover of “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance.
Peaboo and the Catz from the Bay Area brought pop-punk to Mariposa. Kutie, a rising sibling-fronted band from Fresno, brought a blend of emo, alt, grunge and hardcore energy.
Znora, brought bell bottoms, rock and roll and blues to the Art Park. The band, who has opened for artists including Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar, Quiet Riot, Kansas and Los Lonely Boys, traveled the furthest from Tucson, Ariz., to play at JNX Fest.
Mariposa grunge band The Remedies are shown.
For the out of town bands, this was their first time performing in Mariposa.
Mariposa rock band JNX headlined the festival and brought original tunes, complete with high energy riffs, shredding guitar solos and in-your-face rhythms. The band debuted new song “Strange Days.”
JNX’s encore included rock classics — Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Alice In Chains’ “Man in a Box.” Lighted beach balls and neon glow bracelets lit up the Mariposa Art Park during the festival.
At the top of the Mariposa Art Park, JNX Fest set up merchandise tent where festival goers could talk with the different band members and shop for bands’ merchandise.
The festival had artists booths including block printing and a face painting booth. Face painting was popular and the young kids enjoyed painting the face painter, the lead singer of TinklBob.
The band Kutie from Fresno takes the stage.
“I loved everything about it (JNX FEST),” said the teen lead singer and bassist of Peaboo and the Catz. “I will remember this day forever.”
“We could not have done JNX FEST without all of the community support including the Mariposa Community Grant from the Mariposa Arts Council, sponsorships from community organizations and individuals, art vendors and food vendors,” added Dacanay.
The Art + Community grant program, funded by Mariposa County, invites working artists, groups and organizations to submit proposals for projects and programming that support community goals, or serve, uplift and represent underserved populations in Mariposa County.
In addition to the grant, JNX received sponsorships from the Mariposa Lions Club, Rotary Club of Mariposa Yosemite, The Alley, Mountain Fitness, Charles Street, Smoking Oak BBQ, Margarita King, Karen and Jeff Baladad, Kris Casto and donations from The Pizza Factory and Pioneer Market.
The food vendors were L & J Mexican and The Lemon Drop. Harley Minford provided sound.
Kelsea Coder and Clementine Dimorente provided festival art design/branding. Special thanks went to Kris Casto of Main Street Mariposa and Jacob Hawley of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce.
For more on JNX Fest, follow @jnxFest and @jnx_officialband on Instagram.
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